Saturday, April 14, 2007

Lamb Report:Things have been difficult, and there have been problems. (Is it just me, or does trouble always seem to arrive in clumps?) This is to be expected--we do live on a farm full of animals after all. If an entire lambing season ever went off without a hitch, we'd probably both drop dead from the shock.

Why did this happen? How did this happen? Was there something I could have or should have done? There is nothing to do but deal with things one at a time, the best you can, knowing there will never be answers to most of the questions. (Though I'd really like to know just how a baby lamb can manage to tear a large chunk out of his cheek.)

And then you carry on. You think about the bed of baby spinach in the garden and the first of the mesclun mix in the greenhouse that are waiting to be picked for tonight's salad. You smile as you play work down by the spring, clearing paths through the piles of leaves with your rubber-booted feet so all the ponding water can flow downstream, happy that so much badly needed rain has fallen in the past two days. You scoop up a baby lamb in your arms, bury your face in its warm woolly body, and wonder if it is the softest, cuddliest thing you've ever held in your life. You look at this photo of Snugglebunny and realize that it is going to make you laugh out loud for at least the next 30 years.

On Monday we have houseguests arriving for the week. Since this is a very rare occurrence, there has been a flurry of frantic activity in the house as well as the barn as we struggle to make The Shack look halfway presentable. All the lilacs froze to death last week (they sure were lovely while they lasted), and the raised bed I sowed about 5,000 seeds in hasn't offered up a single sprout yet, let alone a bouquet of blooms, so I won't be able to distract roving eyes with vases of freshly cut flowers.

Nope, food will have to do it. Menus are being decided (Grilled lamb chops or roast leg of lamb? Two kinds of pizza or three? Apple pie or blueberry--or both?), and the house is full of the mingling scents of homemade chicken stock simmering away on the stove, an old-fashioned pecan coffee cake cooling on the counter, and an oven full of baking bread. And if all that doesn't distract them from the dust, I figure a couple of lambs in the living room should definitely do the trick. Current lamb count: 37. Number of little things to be grateful for: the same number as yesterday & the day before that--way too many to count.

23 comments:

Wishing you a breath of Peace. Put the timer on and sit with a cuppa and just zone. I hope the dinner goes well and is Überyummy. I vote for blueberry. Blessings and hugs to you and all the furred ones.

These picks of all the new lambs are great - looks like you have a rowdy bunch this year! I'm sorry to hear your having some troubles with them. Even though logic says it's nature and these things happen, it's still always tough to lose the little guys. My guess for the missing chunk of cheek (if it's on the inside of course) is that someone tripped over their own big feet and bit down.

Sorry to hear you are also having some "weird" stuff this baby season. I felt we'd lost more than usual - but when I look at our records - NOPE - we lose about the same percentage every year and it just seems like more because it never is less painful. Hooray for the company - they'll be entertained and well fed - am sure that your bountiful table is a blessing to any visitor! Hang in there - and maybe a stuffed animal line will include removable buckets? Great pic!

Hey Susan, leaving a comment here because I can't find your email despite having corresponded before! Anyhow, I love the photo, made me crack up too, but wanted to make sure you knew about barbara kingsolver's new book and website that goes with it: animalvegetablemiracle.org/Tour.htmlit seems like it's something up your alley! good luck with the lambs!

Adorable! I love looking at your pictures; always so natural, beautiful and absolutely heartwarming. Good luck with the things that aren't going so well at the moment, and I hope your flowers bloom; i'm in Illinois and am hoping the crazy weather changes and unexpected frosts have not killed the flowers for this season as well :/. I do have a question, and it is only out of curiosity; when you make lamb for meals such as for your visiting friends, do you purchase the meat from stores?

December 2015 update: Hi! For some reason I can't figure out, Blogger hasn't been letting me leave comments on my own blog (!) for the last several months, so I've been unable to respond to your comments and questions. My apologies for any inconvenience! You're always welcome to email me: farmgirlfare AT gmail DOT com.

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